Sunday, August 28, 2016

Exhibition: Merritt 4 Vernon 3

This is posted on the Q101 website:

Postgame: Cents 4 Vipers 3 (Exhibition)

Saturday, 27 August 2016

Written by Mantar Bhandal

The Centennials defeated the Vernon Vipers 4-3 on Saturday

The Merritt Centennials swept their home-and-home with the Vernon Vipers, winning again on Saturday 4-3 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. It was a thriller, as the game was within a goal four different times. The Cents featured a different lineup, with Tyler Ward, Ethan Skinner, and Tyler Recchi drawing out up front. On defense, Mark O'Shaughnessy, Tyler Holz, Marshall Skapski and Jake Livingston all drew in. In net, Jake Berger got the night off with Daniel Paul getting the start. This was the third different starting goaltender in three games for the Centennials this preseason.

The game started off with the Centennials scoring first for the second straight game when Chase Bell scored his first of the preseason at the 7:53 mark. Then later in the first period, the team received a scare when forward Nick Wicks took a blindside hit. He finished his shift, but looked wobbly. He left the game and did not return. Cents Assistant Coach/Assistant GM Matt Samson has labelled Wicks as day-to-day with an upper body injury that is not concussion-related. Tyler Pietrowski took Wicks' spot on the second line.

In the second period, the Vipers tied it up at the 3:09 mark when Soi Seibel snapped home his first of the preseason on a two on one. The tie was short-lived, as 25 seconds later John Stein sniped home his first of the preseason to give the lead back to the Cents. A minute and a half later, Vernon tied it up again as Nic Rasovic scored. Both teams then switched goaltenders. Dorian LaBranche came in to relieve Daniel Paul, who stopped 16 of the 18 shots he faced. Vipers starter Gavin Hubbard couldn't get off the ice fast enough as he faced a staggering 32 shots in under 30 minutes of play. His replacement was Cole Demers. Late in the period, with 1:08 remaining, Mark O'Shaughnessy scored to give the Cents their third lead of the night.

In the third period, the Vipers tied the game on a controversial play. LaBranche was out behind the net playing the puck, when the net tilted upwards. The puck slid out to the slot underneath the net, and Cameron Kuhl buried it in the empty net. LaBranche was up in arms as he felt the play should've been blown dead. All four officials gathered, and after discussion, the goal stood. It didn't matter, because at the 11:11 mark, Henry Cleghorn rifled home a loose puck to give the Centennials the lead.

There was some controversy at the end as well, as with the net empty, the Vipers called a timeout. The clock read 20.5 seconds. The actual game clock ran during the timeout. As a result, the clock read 0:00 when the teams lined up for the faceoff in the Centennials' zone. The referees conversed with the timekeepers, and instead of the clock reading 20.5, it read 28.5. The Vipers were given an extra 8 seconds. It didn't matter however, as the Centennials hung on for the 4-3 victory.

The final shots on net were 54-34 Centennials. It was the first time all preseason the Centennials outshot their opposition. The Centennials improved their record to 2-0-0-1 in preseason play, with two games left on the schedule before the regular season begins. The Centennials open a home-and-home with the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday.

1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers Inducted Into Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame

The 1969-70 & 1971-72 Vernon Essos were inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in November 2014

1999 Vernon Vipers Inducted Into BC Hockey Hall Of Fame

The 1999 Vernon Vipers were inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame In July 2016

On December 2nd 2017 the Vernon Vipers honoured the 1956 Vernon Canadians and former Vernon Esso's legend Wayne Dye. The 1956 Vernon Canadians Allen Cup banner along side Wayne Dye's #8 Legends banner were raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place

Kal Tire Place-Home to the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 through the vision of Vernon resident and sports enthusiast, Nick Alexis. With the support of Vernon City Council, Alexis and a dedicated group of volunteers created a series of outdoor exhibits celebrating the region’s dynamic sporting history in Vernon’s Cenotaph Park. That same year, the new organization unveiled its first round of inductees to the Hall of Fame. Several years later, in 2001, the Hall of Fame moved its exhibits into the newly constructed Vernon Multiplex now known as Kal Tire Place.

About Me

I first created this blog in November of 2008. This coming season will be my ninth season doing this blog. I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and have been going to Junior Hockey games in Vernon since I was a young child. I purchased my first set of season tickets in 1990
I have had season tickets for the last 26 years, Since 1990 I have missed 42 home games.
In September of 2009 I missed my first home game since 2002-03 wich my streak of 236 straight Vipers home games came to an end. Ive missed just three Vipers home games since the 1998-1999 season.
I worked with the Vipers back in 2003-04 as colour comentator helping out with a few games over the internet. In 2011 I helped deisgn, create and put together the Vipers new website for the 2011-12 season. I ran and updated the Vipers website for five seasons, keeping all staff bios and pictures updated, adding new game photos, doing a game preview on game days, as well as adding any Vipers news, scores or BCHL news through out the season.
Over the years I have travelled to Victoria, Dauphin & Camrose to watch the Vipers in the RBC Cup. I was also at the 1990 Centennial Cup & 2014 RBC Cup in Vernon.